Champagne

Champagne : Champagne
Key Terms : Key Terms
Assemblage : Assemblage
Assemblage : Assemblage The wine maker and/or cellar master assemble the cuvee of still wines prior to the first fermentation
Remuage : Remuage
Remuage : Remuage Working the lees and other forms of sediment down to the crown cap or temporary cork Courtesy of Madame Cliquot Also known as Riddling Takes place after the second fermentation
Liqueur de Tirage : Liqueur de Tirage
Liqueur de Tirage : Liqueur de Tirage Solution of sugar and yeast added to the final cuvee in order to jump start the second fermentation
Autolysis : Autolysis
Autolysis : Autolysis The wines age in the cellar for their designated time interacting with the lees and form a distinctive ‘autolytic’ character These characteristics are often described as nuttiness, toastiness, ‘yeasty’, and other desirable aromas and flavors
Degorgement : Degorgement
Degorgement : Degorgement Disgorging is the act of removing the frozen plug of ice (containing spent yeast) from a bottle of Champagne or Sparkling Wine, after riddling
Dosage : Dosage
Dosage : Dosage The few ounces of wine, sometimes sweetened, which is added to each bottle of champagne after disgorging to make up for the liquid volume lost by disgorging AKA Liqueur d’Expedition
NM: Négociant manipulant : NM: Négociant manipulant
NM: Négociant manipulant : NM: Négociant manipulant These companies (including the majority of the larger brands) buy grapes and make the wine Moet & Chandon Veuve Cliquot Krug
RM: Récoltant manipulant : RM: Récoltant manipulant
RM: Récoltant manipulant : RM: Récoltant manipulant (Also known as Grower Champagne) A grower that also makes wine from its own grapes (a maximum of 5% of purchased grapes is permitted). There are currently over two thousand, which represents a third of all Champagne producers.
CM: Coopérative de manipulation : CM: Coopérative de manipulation
CM: Coopérative de manipulation : CM: Coopérative de manipulation Co-operatives that make wines from the growers who are members, with all the grapes pooled together
SR: Société de récoltants : SR: Société de récoltants
SR: Société de récoltants : SR: Société de récoltants An association of growers making a shared Champagne but who are not a co-operative
RC: Récoltant coopérateur : RC: Récoltant coopérateur
RC: Récoltant coopérateur : RC: Récoltant coopérateur A co-operative member selling Champagne produced by the co-operative under its own name and label
MA: Marque auxiliaire or Marque d'acheteur : MA: Marque auxiliaire or Marque d'acheteur
MA: Marque auxiliaire or Marque d'acheteur : MA: Marque auxiliaire or Marque d'acheteur A brand name unrelated to the producer or grower; the name is owned by someone else, for example a supermarket, restaurant or wine shop
ND: Négociant distributeur : ND: Négociant distributeur
ND: Négociant distributeur : ND: Négociant distributeur This consists of an individual person or a legal entity (wine merchant) who buys wines in finished bottles. He adds his own label in his workshop.
More Label Jargon : More Label Jargon Brut Natural or Brut Zéro (less than 3 grams of sugar per liter) Extra Brut (less than 6 grams of sugar per liter) Brut (less than 15 grams of sugar per liter) Extra Sec or Extra Dry (12 to 20 grams of sugar per liter) Sec (17 to 35 grams of sugar per liter) Demi-Sec (33 to 50 grams of sugar per liter) Doux (more than 50 grams of sugar per liter)
Main Soil Component : Main Soil Component
Main Soil Component : Main Soil Component Chalk! The chalky soil is ideal for Champagne wine. It absorbs water during winter and gives it back to the vine's roots during summer. The other way around, it absorbs heat during summer to give it back during winter.
Climate : Climate
Climate : Climate Cool, continental climate influenced by the cool breezes and weather conditions from the Atlantic Great risk of Frost
Grand Cru’s : Grand Cru’s
Montagne de Reims : Montagne de Reims Grand Cru villages
Montagne de Reims : Montagne de Reims Ambonnay Beaumont-sur-Vesle Bouzy Loaves Mailly-Champagne Puisieulx Sillery Verzenay Verzy
Cote des Blancs : Cote des Blancs Grand Cru villages
Cote des Blancs : Cote des Blancs Avize Chouilly Cramant Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Oger Oiry
Vallee de la Marne : Vallee de la Marne Grand Cru villages
Vallee de la Marne : Vallee de la Marne Ay Tours-sur-Marne
Quick Facts : Quick Facts - Chardonnay provides freshness and elegance - Pinot Meunier brings fruitiness and aromas - Pinot Noir gives body and structure
Quick Facts : Quick Facts - Montagne de Reims: south of Reims city, where the best Pinot Noir grow - Cote des Blancs: south of Epernay city, where the best Chardonnay grow - Vallée de la Marne: west of Epernay city, where the best Pinot Meunier grow
Advanced Q&A : Advanced Q&A
What is the VDL and Rose produced in Champagne? : What is the VDL and Rose produced in Champagne?
What is the VDL and Rose produced in Champagne? : What is the VDL and Rose produced in Champagne? Ratafia (VDL) Rose des Riceys (Rose)
Name the Prestige Cuvees for : Name the Prestige Cuvees for Salon Taittinger Veuve Cliquot
Prestige Cuvees : Prestige Cuvees Le Mesnil Comtes de Champagne La Grande Dame
Name the Prestige Cuvees for : Name the Prestige Cuvees for Pommery Philiponnat Charles Heidsieck
Prestige Cuvees : Prestige Cuvees Cuvee Louise Clos de Goisses Blanc des Millenaires
How many grams of sugar per liter does Brut Champagne have? : How many grams of sugar per liter does Brut Champagne have?
How many grams of sugar per liter does Brut Champagne have? : How many grams of sugar per liter does Brut Champagne have? less than 15 grams of sugar per liter
How many grams of sugar per liter does Demi-Sec Champagne have? : How many grams of sugar per liter does Demi-Sec Champagne have?
How many grams of sugar per liter does Demi-Sec Champagne have? : How many grams of sugar per liter does Demi-Sec Champagne have? 33 to 50 grams of sugar per liter